Audio Panel Recommendations

Jay Honeck wrote:
> My Narco audio panel works just fine. However, the faceplate has been glued
> back together twice by my avionics shop. (How it got broken in the first
> place is anyone's guess...)
>
> In the recent intense cold, the epoxy has let go again, so I think it's time
> to replace the unit. Other than requiring the marker beacon lights/receiver
> to be built-in, I have no prerequisites. Well, it would be nice if it fit
> in the same hole without too much bother.

On the basis of no technical knowledge, but some personal experience with
customer service, plus lots of anecdotes from contributors to this newsgroup
(including you), why not start your search at PS Engineering?

I'm not an avionics person, but my impression of audio panels is that there is
no standardization and they are simply laboriously wired in soldered connections
and point to point wiring. I dont' think there exists any kind of slide-in
replacement for an audio panel, ever. I stand ready to be corrected.

Dave
Remove SHIRT to reply directly.

"Marco Leon" <mleon(at)>
> When I did my research, the Garmin GMA 340 came out on top comparing price
> vs. features. However, like othe posters ahve mentioned, the bulk of the
> cost is in the labor so if it works fine, then make sure the benefit
> justifies the cost for you.
>
I came up with the Garmin panel too (over the PS).

It was cheaper, the shop was leaning that way, it looks better. And I had a
beatup older PS panel of some type that had become less than solid in
performance while looking like hell.

Having said that, everything I've heard is that the PS panel is excellent as
is the the Garmin.

Wire in a stereo input jack for your IPOD or music machine of choice.

Jay,

Only two choices, IMHO:

Garmin 340 or PS Engineering (7000?). The latter is a little more
expensive, but also more capable.

Just saw that you have PSE in the plane already. In that case, it's a
no-brainer.

Oh, you won't find a modern audiopanel without intercom funcionality.
IMHO, you shouldn't have gotten it in the CD-player.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Roy,

> 2) Split operation (allows one pilot to use one radio while the other
> pilot uses a different radio). The pilot flying can continue to talk to
> ATC, while the PNF can get the ATIS, talk to flight service, etc,
> without distracting the PF.
>

For that, in my experience, it is quite important to have the com antennas
on different side of the aircraft - one on top, one on the bottom.
Otherwise, you'll likely have bleed-over.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

I would recommend that you get a unit with a music input. Not only can
you plug in CD players (something Jay already has), but you can plug
in a handheld radio, cell phones, anything with a standard RCA music
jack.

Jay,
Based on my experience, I'd say there are two choices. Something
from PS Engineering or whatever is in second place. Yes, the King KMA
28 is provided to Honeywell (...Allied Signal...Bendix...King, yada
yada yada) as an OEM product designed and manufactured by PS
Engineering. Likewise the SL-10 and SL-15 from Garmin-AT (...UPS
AT...II Morrow...Apollo, yada yada yada) are also designed and
manufactured by PS Engineering. They may great audio panels and
intercoms. Their reputation for quality and support is a model of how
gen av folks should run their business.
I am flying behind the same stack that came with my plane when I
bought it four years ago. The whole stack is vintage 1980 King Siler
Crown, including a KMA-24. No complaints, and not a single need for
repair yet. The intercom is a six place PS Engineering. I bought my
previous plane without and intercom and installed a PS Engineering.
Eventually, I will be upgrading the KMA-24 to a PMA 7000B. I've
worked in aviation for the past 24 years, and have personally
integrated their products with air-to-ground cellular and satellite
systems.
Since you already have a PS-Engineering intercom, the most costly
part of your wiring has already been done, the wires from the panel to
the cabin audio jacks. The easy way to wire it is to have an
interface cable made up that can be put in place. That is, get a
mating connector that is the same as the one on the back of your
intercom. The PMA 7000B has two slide in connectors in the tray. The
top connector is the intercom, which is the what you want for this
harness.
The audio panel wiring that you want to remove from the existing
unit all wires to the lower connector. Slide the Narco intercom out,
remove the tray fasteners and pull the tray out as far as possible.
Then find out the pinout and get a one to one correspondence between
the power connections and other avionics. The key is that all of
these wires are already connected to your radios, and conveniently
located at the back of the audio panel tray. Here is what you will
likely need to re-connect:

1) Connection to the marker beacon receiver: 5 wires and one coax
2) Two VHF comm radios: 5 wires each, TX pair, RX pair, Gnd
3) Audio connections from two VORs: 2 wires each (might be the same
GND if you have a Nav/Comm)
4) Audio connection to the ADF: Two wires
5) Audio connection to DME if applicable: Two wires
6) Direct wired pilot mic/PTT and headphone: 6 wires
7) All of your other wiring to mic and headphones, which go from the
existing intercom to the top connector on the tray, and can be made on
the bench.

All in all, one harness that can be made on the bench for the
audio, and about 30 more wires and one coax that have to be done in
the plane - but they are already there. Remember to use twisted
shielded pairs on all audio lines, and only bond the shield to
airframe at one end, preferably the end that the audio comes from.
Even that may already be taken care of pretty well. All of the nav
radios are only RX at the audio panel, so should be bonded at the
radio end. All you need to deal with is bonding of the two VHF comm
TX pairs.
It may not be trivial to get to. Mine is not too bad because the
audio panel is at the top of the stack and I can remove a cooling
grate on the top of the glareshield. It's worth talking this over
with your radio shop to see if they agree. They could probably do the
pre-wiring on the bench in about an hour. Re-connecting the radio
wires to the new tray connector will depend on accessibility.

Good luck,
Brian Cox